23 August 2023 , 17:43
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Jenni Hermoso has called for punishment for Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales after he kissed her on the lips during the nation’s World Cup celebrations.
Hermoso said she "did not enjoy it" when Rubiales kissed her on the lips after she received her winner's medal on Sunday. The Spanish FA chief did so after congratulating the 33-year-old for her role in defeating England 1-0 in the World Cup final in Sydney.
The incident occurred after Hermoso was handed her medal by FIFA president Gianni Infantino, when she was greeted by Rubiales, who gave her a hug – temporarily lifting Hermoso off her feet – before briefly speaking to her and then placing his hands on the back of her head and pulling her in to kiss her on the lips.
Hermoso has now spoken out – via the FUTPRO union which is representing her – about the incident. The player has communicated: "My FUTPRO union, in coordination with my TMJ agency, are taking charge of defending my interests and being the communication channel on this matter."
FUTPRO have subsequently expressed, as reported by Relevo, that they are demanding that the kiss from Rubiales “does not go unpunished.” They are calling on the Spanish FA to implement "the necessary protocols" and adopt "exemplary measures." The FA’s official protocol classifies 'forced kisses' as "unacceptable conduct with immediate consequences."
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Footage of the incident swiftly went viral on social media with supporters of the Spanish team and many others highlighting the actions of Rubiales and stating that they were inappropriate. Hermoso then spoke of the incident on her Instagram Live account after the match.
Hermoso was kissed on her lips by Spain FA president Rubiales after the match (RTVE)The star said of the incident: "Eh... yeah, I did not enjoy that." She was then asked by an unidentified teammate: "Sis, what have you done"? Hermoso replied: "What can I do, look at me." An unidentified male member of staff then asked: "Did he use tongue?"
Getafe chairman Angel Torres has said "Rubiales cannot last another minute in office." If he does not resign, the club are asking for Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to intervene.
Sanchez condemned the “unacceptable” behaviour of Rubiales on Tuesday, adding that the Spanish football president’s apologies “have not been enough”. Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Diaz has called for Rubiales' removal from his post, saying: "We continue to request the resignation of Rubiales, who has dehumanised and assaulted a woman. His excuses are useless."
The CSD (Spain’s High Council for Sports) has already received complaints about Rubiales and the Spanish FA has convened an extraordinary meeting for Friday.
The global players’ union FIFPRO released a statement on Wednesday calling for immediate action to be taken, adding “it is deeply lamentable that such a special moment … should be stained by the inappropriate conduct of an individual in a role carrying so much responsibility”.
Rubiales said in an apology video posted online on Monday : "There is something that I regret and it is everything that has happened between me and a player, with whom I have a magnificent relationship – just as I do with the other players.
"This is an incident in which I have surely been wrong, I have to admit it because at a moment of maximum emotion and without any bad intention, and without any bad faith, what happened did so in a really spontaneous manner."
That represented a U-turn for Rubiales, who told Radio Marca on Sunday that the incident was "a minor show of affection" and called those condemning his actions "idiots". He bullishly had said: “The kiss with Jenni? There are idiots everywhere. When two people have a minor show of affection, we can't listen to idiocies. We are champions and that is what stays with me."
Further footage was posted on Spain forward Salma Paralluelo's Instagram Live account, showing Rubiales entering the players' dressing room after the match. He informed them that they must visit the Spanish island of Ibiza, as that is where he will marry Hermoso.
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Rubiales was also pictured kissing Olga Carmona after the game (Twitter@https://twitter.com/PabloEchenique)The kiss with Hermoso did not appear to be an isolated incident, with Rubiales also pictured kissing the cheek of Olga Carmona - the scorer of Spain's winning goal - during the on-field celebrations after the match.
Hermoso is Spain's all-time leading goalscorer and the World Cup is the latest trophy she has won during her illustrious career. Across stints at Rayo Vallecano, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona, Hermoso has lifted seven Spanish league titles and also started for Barcelona as they beat Chelsea to win the 2021 Champions League final.